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Shekau says he leads Boko Haram, not IS-appointed successor

Posted: 12:52 PM, Aug 04, 2016

Updated:2016-08-04 12:52:04-04

By:
The Associated Press

Copyright Associated Press

<p>In this file image taken from video released late Friday evening, Oct. 31, 2014, by Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, centre, the leader of Nigeria's Islamic extremist group. Nigeria’s Boko Haram Islamic extremists have a new leader who promises to end attacks on mosques and markets used by Muslims, according to an interview published Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016 by the Islamic State. The group’s newspaper al-Nadaa identifies Abu Musab al-Barnawi as the new “Wali” of its West Africa Province _ a title previously used to describe long-time leader Abubakar Shekau. (Boko Haram, via AP)</p>

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Abubakar Shekau says he still leads Boko Haram, exposing the biggest rift yet among Nigeria's Islamic insurgents and possibly paving the way for a break from the Islamic State group.

The Islamic State on Wednesday announced that Abu Musab al-Barnawi is the new leader of its so-called West Africa province.

But an audio speech Thursday purporting to be from Shekau criticizes al-Barnawi. It also says IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi did not respond to letters explaining that al-Barnawi is "an infidel" preaching "false creeds."

Shekau's speech highlights ideological differences with al-Barnawi, who has promised to end attacks on mosques and Muslim markets — attacks that had become a hallmark of Boko Haram.

Shekau in March 2015 pledged allegiance to al-Baghdadi and gave IS its first franchise in sub-Saharan Africa.

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